Knockdown grain drill hopper



June 21, 1932. s. w. CADY ET AL 1,864,294

KNOCKDOWN GRAIN DRILL HOPPER.

Filed June 12, 1929 I mmm I IILIHIII 7 horizontal portions 2 Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFECZE SHERMAN W. CADY, 0F PERRY, NEW YORK, AND GEORGE M. KRIEGBAUM, 0F RICH- MOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS T0 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER- COMPANY, A GOR- PORATIONOF NEW JERSEY Application filed June 12,

This invention relates to a grain drill hopper construction. More particularly, it relates to an improved hopper base construction. The principal object of the invention is to provide a hopper which is of knockdown construction and is readily assembled and taken apart. Another object is to reduce the number of parts to a minimum and obtain a hopper adapted to detachably support the dispensing mechanisms, or feed cups, in a manner adding to the rigidity and strength of the hopper bottom.

Further objects relate to economics of manufacture and details of construction, as will be apparent from the detailed description to follow. 1

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of our invention as applied to a grain drill hopper is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly in sec tion, showing the improved grain hopper and a pair of the standards which'support it on a frame; 7

Figure 2 is a top plan view, showing the bottom plate forming a part of the grain hopper and two feed cups in position;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the same parts shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the joints shown in Figure l; and,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the joint structure shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 1, the grain drill hopper is provided with sheet metal side members l, forming the side walls of the hopper. The side walls are substantially vertical and slope inwardly near the bottom. At the lower edges, the side members are provided with laterally extending flanges formed with and outwardly and downwardly extending portions 3.

Hopper supporting bars or standards 4 fit against the upper part of the members forming the hopper walls and are secured thereto by suitable bolts 6. The bars extend downwardly and outwardly from the hopper and are secured to the frame member 5 by suitable means 7. The member 5 is a part of an implement frame, not shown, as it is not a described.

1929. Serial No. 370,187.

part of the invention. is preferably positioned within the hopper and is secured by the bolts 6. 7

The bottom of the hopper is formed by a flat plate 9, shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Plate 9 is provided with openings or apertures l0 rectangular in shape and spaced longitudinally. The bottom plate extends across thebottom of the hopper and overlaps the horizontal portions 2 of the side-flanges hereinbefore described which form ledges against which the plate contacts. The edges of the bottom plate terminate at the junction of the horizontal portions 2 of the flanges and the downwardly extending portions 3.

Feed cups 11 are positioned below the bottom-plate and in registration with the openings 10. The cups are provided with end walls 12 Figure 4) having the upper extremities formed as ledges, which abut the bottom plate adjacent the ends of the openings 10v and side walls 13 (Figure 2), which extend into the openings along the side thereof and form grain tight joints with the bottom'plate. The feed cups are also provided with lateral extensions 14 in 1 the form of flanges extending downwardly at thesame angle of the side flanges. The extensions 14 are spaced from the side flanges a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the bottom Bars 15 are positioned'between the side flanges of the hopper walls and the extensions 14 on the casing, and the three parts are fastened securely in position by bolts 16. The bars 15 extend longitudinally the length of the hopper and laterally to the edge of the bottom plate 9, terminating at the junction of the horizontaland downwardly portions of the side flanges.

In this instance, the feed cups 11 are fitted with the usual fluted feed wheels 17 for dispensing the grain fed thereto from the hopper through the openings in the bottom plate. A. driving shaft 18 extends through the cups 11 and carries the feed wheels.

The improved graindrill hopper, as shown and described, is simple to manufacture, is

extending readily assembled or taken apart, and is subplate, for a purposehereinafter A bracing member 8 bottom plate stantial and durable in operation. The hopper proper is composed of three simple parts,a flat bottom plate and two similar side members. The outside supports 4 and the inside bracing members 8 cooperate to rigidly support the hopper and to prevent displacement of the side walls. The flat bottom plate 9 fits against the aligned horizontal portions or ledges 2 of the side flanges, to form a grain tight joint. The ledges on the end wall-s 12 of the cups 11 hold the bottom plate securely in position, and feed cups of diflerent types may be interchangeably used on the same bottom plate. The edges 15 of the bars 15 also abut the edges of the bottom plate and hold it in position in the spaces between the casings.

Although this invention has been described in connection with a grain drill, it is understood that it is adapted for distributing or dispensing devices to be used for other purposes, and applicants limit their invention only to the scope of the appended claims.

\Vhat is claimed is: V

1. In a dispensing device, a hopper, side members forming the side walls of the hopper and having outwardly extending flanges at the bottom, said flanges being provided with aligned horizontal portions adjacent the side Walls and downwardly extending portions beyond the horizontal portions, an apertured flat plate extending across the bottom and terminating at the junction of the horizontal and downwardly extending portions of the flanges, .teed cups containing dispensing mechanisms below and in contact with the and registering with the apertures therein, said cups being provided with lateral flanges mating with the downwardly extending portions of the side member flanges, and means for clamping the mating flanges into fixed position.

2. In a dispensing device, a hopper, side members forming the side 7 walls of the hopper and having outwardly extending flanges at the bottom said flanges being provided with aligned horizontal portions adjacent the side walls and downwardly extending portions beyond the horizontal portions, an apertured flat plate extending across the bottom of the hopper and terminating at the junction of the horizontal and downwardly extending portions of the flanges, feed cups containing grain drill mechanism below and in contact with the bottom plate and registering with the apertures therein, said cups being provided with lateral flanges mating with the side member flanges and spaced therefrom a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the bottom plate, reinforcing and supporting bars between the mating flanges, and means for clamping the flanges and intermediate bars into fixed positions.

3. In a dispensing device, a hopper, side distance substantially tom plate,

members forming the side walls of the hopper and having outwardly extending flanges at the bottom, said flanges being provided with aligned horizontal portions adjacent the side walls and downwardly extending portions beyond the horizontal portions, an apertured flat plate extending across the bottom of the hopper and terminating at the junction of the horizontal and downwardly; extending portions of the flanges, feed cups containing grain dispensing mechanism below and in contact with the bottom plate and registering with the apertures therein, said cups being provided with lateral flanges mating with the side member flanges and spaced therefrom a greate'r than the thickness of the bottom plate, reinforcing and supporting bars between the mating flanges and coextensive longitudinally with the side wall flanges, said bars positioned to abut and sup port the edges of the bottom plate between the flanges of the cups, and means for clamping the flanges and intermediate bars into fixed positions. 7

4:. In a dispensing device a hopper, side members forming the side walls of the hopper and having outwardly extending flanges at the bottom, spaced feed cups containing dispensing mechanisms secured to said flanges, a

bottom plate bridging the space between two adjacent cups and overlapping the flanges between said on s, and ledges on the seed cups independent 0' the means for securing the cups to the side member flangespositioned to engage the bottom plate and to hold said plate in contact with said flanges.

5. In a dispensing device a hopper, side members forming the side walls of the hopper and having outwardly extending flanges at.

the bottom thereof, each or" said flanges being formed with a ledge adapted to abut a bot- V g and a feed cup securing portion spaced outwardly from said first named portion, a bottom plate fitted against said ledges,

a feed cup provided with portions positioned to engage the bottom plate and hold it in position against the ledges .on the side member flanges and securing flanges, and means for rigidly securing said flanges to the feed cup securing portions ofthe side member flanges.

6. In a dispensing device a hopper, side members forming the side walls of the hopper and having outwardly extending flanges at the bottom thereof, each of said flanges being formed with a ledge-adapted to abut a bottom plate, and a feed cup securing portion spaced outwardly from said first named portion, a bottom plate fitted against said ledges, spaced feed cups provided with portions positioned to engage the portions of the bottom late lying thereon and hold it in position against the ledges on the side member flanges and securing flanges, and'means for rigidly ioo ios

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securing said flanges to the feed cup securing portions of the side member flanges.

7. In a dispensing device, a hopper, side members forming the side walls of the hopper and having outwardly extending flanges at the bottom, said flanges being provided with aligned horizontal portions adjacent the side walls and outwardly extending portions beyond the horizontal portions, a plate extending across the bottom and terminating at the junction of the horizontal portions with 1 the portions extending therefrom, feed cups positioned below and in contact with the bot tom plate, said cups being provided with lateral flanges mating with the outwardly ex tending portions of the side member flanges,

and means for clamping the mating flanges together.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signa tures.

SHERMAN W. CADY. GEORGE M. KRIEGBAUM. 

